Lionel Messi Prepares Options If He No Longer Has A Career In Football, The Coach Is Not A Choice

Inter Miami player, Lionel Messi. (Photo: Twitter/@InterMiamiFC)

JAKARTA - Lionel Messi is considered to have entered the final period of his career. The Argentine is now 36 years old.

Messi admitted that he already had a plan when he decided to hang up his shoes. The player with the largest collection of world best players (Ballon d'Or) in history was not interested in becoming a coach.

Messi prefers to start a career as a sporting director.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star expressed his desire because he realized that he was a professional footballer had a big responsibility. However, since signing a contract as a professional player in 2004, to be precise when joining Barcelona, Messi enjoyed this profession.

"For me, this is a profession. I am lucky enough to be able to do the professions I like. Even though there are still responsibilities and targets, it remains something I enjoy. What will I do next? I don't know, but I want to be a sports director, with my children, and teach (ball football)," Lionel Messi said as quoted by 90Min during an interview with Olga.

Messi's desire to become a sports director was not the first time this has happened. In an interview with Spanish media network La Sexta in 2020, Messi also expressed a similar desire.

"I don't see myself as a coach (in the future), maybe more inclined as a sporting director who can bring in the players I want or the club needs," Messi said earlier.

Until now Messi is still listed as an active footballer who defends the United States club, Inter Miami. As far as his career records go, Messi has appeared in more than 1000 official matches, both at club level and with the Argentine national team.

The player nicknamed La Pulga has also scored more than 800 goals in his professional career to date. Messi has also almost won all prestigious titles, both at club level and at national team level.

Starting from the Champions League trophy, to the World Cup title for Argentina. The various trophy collections are equipped with Messi with individual awards, including seven Ballon d'Or titles.